From Villain to Hero in Four Weeks

The year was 1944 the place somewhere in NW Europe on the
Belgian/Holland border. I with my Troop was part of 1st Corps Troops
under General Crocker. Our Regiment along with others known as Corps
Troops (ie general service, not infantry or tanks) were not required
for the time being and the General wanted the roads kept free so that
stores, food, petrol etc could pass freely. We were thus confined to
the fields, where we had come to rest.

I got news that some of the lesser Generals who normally hang
around Corps HQ were planning to get back to the kind of soldiering
they practised in peace time on Salisbury Plain. One scheme was to
plan an organised march (in vehicles) to take us up to the front
when required. This meant a chosen route with the Regiment marching
as complete units one after the other. Not the usual mad rush when
we received orders. The front vehicle in each unit was to fly a green
flag and the rear one to bear a blue one. It may have been the other
way round. All I know is that if you saw two greens together (or two
blues) someone had made a mess of things and was probably heading in
the wrong direction. There was to be a fixed interval between each
vehicle and all to proceed at the same speed. The generals would then
stand at the side of the road and observe the "March Discipline".

All this would take time to work out, so I asked one of my
Lieutenants to go up to what was to be our new position and find a
good HQ - a large building as I had grown tired of sleeping in
haystacks or in the lofts of cow sheds - very warm as the heat from
the cattle rose, but so also did the smell. Charlie was well pleased
with his work having found a young ladies' seminary with the caretaker
still there and who said he could provide hot water and loos not
requiring the use of shovels.

The day came and we were ready to move with stop watches in hand
when a D.R. (despatch rider) rode up to hand me a message saying that
Corps HQ were taking our new found HQ, and we were left to find
another. Charlie went off with not very good grace saying it was
not his turn. My reasoning was he knew the area and would know
where not to look.

When we met up with him in addition to his own jeep he was towing
a dilapidated battle scarred one. This he said had been given to him
by a Belgian White Army officer (the equivalent of the French Maquis).
He had found it in a wood with 4 dead Poles. He buried the Poles and
I think was hoping to keep the jeep but as he could not get spares
for the repair decided to give it up. All he wanted to retain was an
overcoat found in the jeep with other gear.

The jeep was quickly repaired and painted with our Regimental
insignia. It was very useful as it meant every officer then had his
own jeep, very useful particularly for sneaking away to a café
or "what have you". Not as conspicuous as a 3 tonner or half track.

Some days later a Dutch Liaison Officer with 1st Corps came around
making enquiries. His friend the Liaison Officer with the Polish
Division had literally been caught with his trousers down in a
"café" and his jeep was stolen from the car park. Apparently
it was not uncommon for Polish soldiers to steal a vehicle and retreat
to the nearest town and have the time of O'Reilly until all their
money and energy was spent. They would then return, filter through
their lines and come in from no man's land saying they had been
captured and escaped. Thus being thought of as heroes and not
deserters.

I handed over the jeep and the gear found in it, although he said
it did not matter as his friend would be so grateful just to get the
jeep. He had been threatened with being shot by his General if the
jeep was not found.

End of story. Oh no.

The next day a horrible Dutch Liaison Officer from the Polish
Division turned up demanding to see the officer who had given his
coat away and the one who had stolen his jeep. He was so offensive
I had him thrown out of the camp.

Again end of story. No.

The next visitor was a Captain in the Military Police (Red Caps).
I told him all and I thought he dismissed it as something of a joke.

Oh no.

Our Adjutant (i/c the office) sent for me and said he was to carry
out an Enquiry into the whole affair. His report was sent to Corps HQ,
then to Montgomery's HQ, then on to JAG (Judge Advocate Generals) Dept.
Their report to Montgomery recommended that I be Court Martialled
(similar to to civilian crown court but with senior officers as judges).

Monty however was his own man not given to accepting advice. He said
Court Martials were to be avoided if possible in war time as being
wasteful in time and resources. He decreed that subject to my CO giving
me a good report and - this is what pleased me - subject to my permission
I could be tried summary by General Crocker, 1st Corps Commander. This
meant arbitrary punishment being handed out as would be given to an
"Other Rank" being absent without leave, or writing B-- S-- in the dust
on his bed space before inspection.

I thought about the punishment the General could impose

(a) As we were on active service he could have me shot. A little
drastic I thought.

(b) I could be tied to the wheel of a gun carriage. Highly impractical
these days with solid wheels (no spokes) and large pneumatic tyres.

(c) Dismissed the service with disgrace. Not a bad option after
five years service.

I chose to go before the General.

Resplendent in a new battledress with yellow blancoed belt and
gaiters I was escorted up to the General. I do not remember whether
or not my cap was removed. All "other ranks" had their hats off for
fear of them concealing a hand grenade in it to hurl at the "judge".
An officer was perhaps considered too much of a gentleman for such
conduct.

I was asked, after the charge was read out, if I pleaded guilty
or not guilty.

"Guilty, Sir".

"I must take a very serious view of this particularly as the jeep
belonged to a foreign power" - the Poles - as much to say if it had
been the "Buffs" or the "Green Howards" nothing more would have been
said. "Under the circumstances I have no alternative but to award you
a Severe Reprimand - March Out."

I thus became the possessor of Army Form 121 which is an officer's
conduct sheet. Even in disgrace officers were not to be counted with
ORs (other ranks) who had AF122. These sheets should follow you around
and be recorded in one's discharge papers. Perhaps
mine was not made out, or lost, or sent to the Polish General but I
never heard of it again.

A month later I was again sent for to go before General Crocker.
As soon as I booked in the brigade major (who was the same one as
previously) said "You again. You will not get away with it this time.
You are for the high jump". My reply was to the effect that I was not
in trouble and the General wanted to compliment me about something.
This did not please him. "I do nothing wrong, wait on the General
hand and foot, never go on leave and I don't even get 'Mentioned in
Dispatches'". My reply was something to the effect that he should
put himself around and advertise himself a little. At this he almost
foamed at the mouth. As I was led away, my escort said "you said
the wrong thing there. In civilian life he has his own advertising
agency".

I do not remember the exact set up but General Crocker was most
pleasant. If he did remember me from my previous meeting he was too
polite to mention it. He congratulated me on all I had done since
landing on D Day
and presented me with a piece of white-purple-white striped ribbon
the size of a large postage stamp. Just enough for a strip on one
battledress. He added that HRH King George VI would be giving me a
more formal recognition at a more convenient time.

And that is how I came to be awarded the Military Cross.

I did not get to Buckingham Palace as the King had become much too
ill to stand for longer than to dub a few knights or give a few KCBs.
The metalwork came by post.